Bongbong’s Imelda problem
Imelda was convicted on seven graft charges. Seven. Not one. Not an accounting error. Eight years later, she’s still free.
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Daily TribuneImelda was convicted on seven graft charges. Seven. Not one. Not an accounting error. Eight years later, she’s still free.
Bongbong said, “I am not the president of my family.”
Martin Romualdez probably found that out before the rest of us. You know what would convince everybody? Imelda. In jail.
Come on, Bongbong. If the plane is going down, who do you call? Not the cousin. If the boat is sinking, who gets the jacket? Mom. Liza. The kids. The family dog.
The cousin? “Martin. Thoughts and prayers. Stay strong.” Everybody understands that. Human nature.
Cousin is family until election season. You hug them at Christmas. Sue them in February. You campaign against them in May.
So, when Bongbong says, “I’m not the president of my family...” OK. Then explain why the biggest family problem somehow never gets solved?
Imelda was convicted on seven graft charges. Seven. Not one. Not an accounting error. Eight years later, she’s still free. The case was filed in 1991. It took 27 years just to get a conviction in 2018 at the Sandiganbayan.
“It’s on appeal.” “The court must decide.” “We cannot interfere.” Incredible respect for institutions.
So, you can investigate the cousin, give the magnificent speech, get the standing ovation. But mommy’s case remains exactly where it has been for eight years.
The only thing moving now is Bongbong’s term. He can still pull the emergency-clemency lever if Imelda’s conviction suddenly sticks while he’s holding it.
Can still let history give Imelda a final conviction followed immediately by forgiveness.
But under some hostile successor? Family loses the guarantee.
Sara has already threatened to dig up the old man and throw him into the sea. Can’t safely assume a Duterte presidency would show mercy to Meldy.
Who would? The father gave Sr. a hero’s grave. The daughter gave Bongbong the strongest alliance of 2022.
And now Bongbong stands before the country announcing that he is not the president of his family, while his government moves against the family that helped make his return possible.
You don’t get the presidency twice. Sure as hell you won’t get pardoned twice.
A hostile next administration could pull Imelda’s case back to the center of national life. Suddenly it will be everywhere again: the news, hearings, protesters.
The hiding place disappears and the family has to choose: keep doing what they have done for eight years—gamble on the court and hope that Imelda outlives the case? Or do they withdraw the appeal, allow the conviction to become final, and place Imelda’s fate squarely in the hands of her son?
Because while the appeal keeps Imelda out of prison, it also keeps Bongbong out of trouble.
No final conviction. No pardon. No pardon. No decision.
And no decision means no one will ever know whether “I am not the president of my family” was a principle or just a speech.
